South Africa on a high in Super 14

SYDNEY – South African rugby celebrated an unbeaten weekend of Super 14 matches for its five teams as Australia lamented a winless fifth round for its sides.

New Zealand’s Auckland Blues kept on top of the Super 14 following a 28-9 derby win at home over Otago Highlanders on Friday, but they are being pursued by three South African teams in the southern hemisphere provincial series. The Natal Sharks left it to the last minute to topple the six-time champions Canterbury Crusaders 27-26 in Durban Saturday to remain unbeaten and move to within two points of the Blues.Johannesburg’s Golden Lions came from behind to overhaul Queensland Reds 26-20 in Brisbane Saturday, following Pretoria’s Northern Bulls’ clinical 19-7 victory hours earlier over the injury-riddled ACT Brumbies in Canberra.Cape Town-based Western Stormers upset the Wellington Hurricanes 30-17 in New Zealand to send the Hurricanes sliding from second to fifth.Bloemfontein’s Central Cheetahs rounded off an unforgettable weekend of Super 14 action for South Africa with a 22-22 draw with New Zealand’s Waikato Chiefs at home.While South Africans were basking in success, there was more gloom for the Australian teams with NSW Waratahs and Western Force drawing 16-16 in a disappointing spectacle in Sydney and compounded by losses for the Reds and Brumbies.The Perth-based Force are the leading Australian franchise in sixth place, but the Brumbies (10th), Waratahs (12th) and Reds (last) are in the bottom half of the standings.There was high excitement in Durban when Sharks scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar landed a sideline conversion in stoppage time to clinch a one-point victory over New Zealand’s Crusaders.The Sharks, who trailed 13-6 at the change-over, ran the ball from deep inside their own half after the 80 minutes were up and scored through winger Odwa Ndungane to leave Pienaar with the task of converting for the win.Pienaar knocked the ball over to ensure his side remain the only unbeaten team in this year’s championship.Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius put in an authoritative substitute performance to steer the Lions to victory over the Reds in Brisbane to move into third place.The Bulls became the first South African team to beat the Brumbies in Canberra since the Natal Sharks (41-23) in 1998 with a tremendous defensive performance to hold firm after leading 19-0 at halftime.Nampa-AFPThe Natal Sharks left it to the last minute to topple the six-time champions Canterbury Crusaders 27-26 in Durban Saturday to remain unbeaten and move to within two points of the Blues.Johannesburg’s Golden Lions came from behind to overhaul Queensland Reds 26-20 in Brisbane Saturday, following Pretoria’s Northern Bulls’ clinical 19-7 victory hours earlier over the injury-riddled ACT Brumbies in Canberra.Cape Town-based Western Stormers upset the Wellington Hurricanes 30-17 in New Zealand to send the Hurricanes sliding from second to fifth.Bloemfontein’s Central Cheetahs rounded off an unforgettable weekend of Super 14 action for South Africa with a 22-22 draw with New Zealand’s Waikato Chiefs at home.While South Africans were basking in success, there was more gloom for the Australian teams with NSW Waratahs and Western Force drawing 16-16 in a disappointing spectacle in Sydney and compounded by losses for the Reds and Brumbies.The Perth-based Force are the leading Australian franchise in sixth place, but the Brumbies (10th), Waratahs (12th) and Reds (last) are in the bottom half of the standings.There was high excitement in Durban when Sharks scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar landed a sideline conversion in stoppage time to clinch a one-point victory over New Zealand’s Crusaders.The Sharks, who trailed 13-6 at the change-over, ran the ball from deep inside their own half after the 80 minutes were up and scored through winger Odwa Ndungane to leave Pienaar with the task of converting for the win.Pienaar knocked the ball over to ensure his side remain the only unbeaten team in this year’s championship.Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius put in an authoritative substitute performance to steer the Lions to victory over the Reds in Brisbane to move into third place.The Bulls became the first South African team to beat the Brumbies in Canberra since the Natal Sharks (41-23) in 1998 with a tremendous defensive performance to hold firm after leading 19-0 at halftime.Nampa-AFP